Cyclamen Tortrix - Clepsis spectrana

Wingspan 16-22 mm. This is a very variable species. The ground colour of the forewing ranges from creamy yellow to rich chestnut-brown or dark brown. However, it usually shows a similar pattern of darker markings. The costa of the male's wing is distinctly convex, while on the female the distal half of the costa is slightly concave.

It occurs in a variety of habitats but prefers lush vegetation in damp conditions, including wet woodland, marshes, bogs and coastal saltings.

It flies between early May and September but is commonest in mid June.

The larvae feed in the spun leaves and flowers of a wide variety of herbaceous plants. Full-grown larvae are most often found in May and June.

It is common over England, Wales, Ireland and southern Scotland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

Quite common in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = A (common and resident)